Conveyer apparatus



NOV, 7, 1944. R s McCANN ETAL CONVEYER APPARATUS 6 SheetS -Sheet 1 Filed Dec. 12, 1942 INVENTQES Me 05m! A. N. 7600190- z. A TTOENEY' Nov. 7, 1944. P. s. MccANN ETAL CONVEYER AIPARATUS I Filed Dec. 12, 1942 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVE N TOES FPS. McC'n/v/v A M TODOROFF HTTOENEY.

Nov.'7, 1944. P, s, MCCANN ETAL 2,362,079

CONVEYER APPARATUS Filed Dec. 12, 1942 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOES FPS. Mc CHNN g g 5 A. N. 7600 90 HTTOENEY Nov. 7, 1944.

' P. S. M CANN ETAL CONVEYER APPARATUS Filed Dec. 12; 1942 I TTOEN Y 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 IN VE N TOE 5 R. 5. Me CA/wv ,4. N. 7220020- Nov. 7, 1944. P, s, MCCANIIQ ETAL I 2,362,079

CONVEYER APPARATUS Filed Dec. 12, 1942 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTORS 5. Me CA/wv IV. 72700190! F BY Nov. 7, 1944- P. s. M CANN ETAL 2,362,079

CONVEYER APPARATUS Filed Dec. 12, 1942 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 INVENTOES R 5. Mc (JAN/v A. M 7bDOl0FF nrroener Patented Nov. 7, 1944 CONVEYER APPARATUS.

Paul S. McCann, La Grange, and Alexander N.

Todorofl, Chicago, 111., assignors to Western Electric Compa y, Incorporated, New York, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application December 12, 1942, Serial No. 468,790

14 Claims.

This invention relates to a conveyer apparatus and more particularly to apparatus for controlling the delivery of articlesto a plurality of stations in the order in which the stations call for them.

It is an object of the present invention toprovide an apparatus for sequentially controlling the destination of articles on a conveyer.

In accordance with one embodiment of the invention, as applied to a conveyer for transporting trays of articles to a series of processing ovens, there is provided'a call button adjacent each oven, which, when operated, will register the call and initiate the operation of automatic circuit connections to cause articles to be delivered to stations in the sequence in which the call buttons associated therewith are operated. The circuits set upupon operation of the call buttonsare arranged to register the order of operation of the call buttons and then control various motor controlling switches adjacent the ovens in a variable sequence to cause the conveyer to deliver articles to the proper ovens in accordance with the sequence in which the call buttons were operated.

A better understanding of the invention may be had by reference -to the following detailed description when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein Fig. 1 is a schematic diagram of a conveyer system which the apparatus of the present invention is adapted to control;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary plan view of a portion of the conveyer system shown in Fig. 1, parts being broken away to conserve space;

Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view taken substantially along the line 3-3 of Fig. 2 in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 4 is a detail view of asolenoid-actuated stop utilized in the operation of the control mechanism;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional viewthrough one of the solenoid actuated stops showing a switch mechanism forming a partof the control ciruit;

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary detail view in perspective of a portion of the conveyer mechanism and a switch associated therewith for controlling parts of the control circuit;

Figs. '7 and 8 are circuit diagrams showing portions of the various control circuits for the apparatus, the relative position of the conveyer per se being shown in dot and dash lines and when Figs. '7 and 8 are placed side by side, with .Fig. 8 to the right of Fig. '7, they show that portion of the circuit particularly associated with the oven positions along the conveyer; and

Figs. 9 and 10 show further details of the circuit and when Fig. 9 is placed at the right of Fig. 8 and Fig. 10 is placed beneath ,Fig. 9, the combination of Figs. 7, 8, 9 and 10 illustrates the entire circuit comprising one embodiment of the control apparatus constituting the present invention. 1 4

Referring to the drawings, whereinlike reference characters designate the same parts throughout the several views, particular reference being had to Figs. 1 to '6, inclusive, showing-the mechanical equipment and arrangement of the conveyer and its associated switches, there is provided a main conveyer-|5,-downwhich trays l8 are tobe fedfor transference to-ovens ll; l8, I9, 20, 2|, 22, 23-and 24 by a cross conveyer;25. The conveyers l5 and 25 include frameworks composed of angle iron supports 26 and 21 and-2B and 29, which support driven rollers an and-3|, respectively. The tray l 6 is substantially rectangular in configuration and will be fed down the main conveyer l5 to the position illustrated at the left side of Fig. 2 and if an operator at one of the stations H to 24 has signified that he wants a tray fed to him, as will be described hereinafter, a tray l6 will-then be fed transversely of its length across the cross conveyer 25 to the oven, where an operator has signified his want for a tray.

The structural features of the conveyer l5 and 25 are relatively unimportant herein and have not been shown in great detail, it being sufiicient to know that the-tray is fed longitudinally down the conveyer l5-to a position in alignment with the conveyer 25 and thereafter may be fed across the conveyer 25 a distance controlled by the control circuit to be described in detail hereinafter.

At the juncture of the main conveyer l5 and the cross conveyer 25,. there is provided a mech the angle iron support 26 and drives a pair of The sprockets 31 and 38 35 is operated. In Figs. 7 and 8, only one of the chains 4| and 42 is illustrated; that is, 'the chain 42, whose attached feed dogs 45 and 46, in addition to feeding the tray IB across the conveyer I by sliding it on the rollers 30, control a switch 41 in the circuit of the apparatus. While the feed chains 4| and 42 may be of any suitable type, one form of chainis illustrated in Fig. 6, wherein the relation of the chain, sprocket and dog with a switch are illustrated. For purposes of illustration, the sprocket 31, chain 42, dog 46 and switch 41 have been chosen. As shown in this figure, the sprocket is fixed to the shaft 36 nd the og 46 engages a spring actuatin lever 48, which is pivoted at 49 in any suitable manner and when engaged by the dog 46, will actuate the switch 41. In the mechanical portion of the apparatus, which constitutes a part of the.present invention, the trays I6, after being fed onto the cross conveyer 25, may be stopped adjacent any pair of ovens t1 and M,v l8 and 22, I9 and: 23, or and 24, and,"when stopped. adjacent the ovens, will be selectively pushed; into the particular oven the operator of which has calledfor tray, The mechanism for performing this operation is substantially the: same adjacent all of the ovens, being of identical construction adjacent the, first three sets of ovens and of slightlyditterent construction adjacent the ovens 20 and 24. The motors for-driving the apparatus at the ovens have not been shown in the mechanical portions of the drawings, but are indicated in the circuit, being designated 50, 51,52 and 53. Thesemotors are reversible and, depending upon thecall button operated by an operator at a particular oven, will drive a sprocket 54 (Fig; 3) either clockwise or counter-clockwise. The sprocket 54 has cooperating with it'- a sprocket 55 for supporting a drive chain- 56 carrying a pair of feed dogs 51 and 58 adapted to engage a tray which has been stopped above the feed chain 56 and feed it into either the oven I! or the oven 2|,

The mechanism for stopping the tray in position between any pair of ovens comprises a blocking plate 59 mounted upon an oscill'atable shaft 60 and normally held below the upper level of the rollers 3F, the shaft 60- being journalled for oscillation in the angle iron supports 28 and 2-9. The shaft 60 has fixed to it a lever 6 I, which is interconnected with a plunger 62 of a solenoid 63 by a link 64. As shown in Fig. 4, the solenoid 63 is energized and has drawn the plunger 62* to the right, thereb to move the blocking plate 59 into the path of a tray I6. In the deenergized position, the solenoid 63 will push the blocking plate 59 out of the path of the tray I6 since aspring 65' is provided for normally holding the plunger 62 in a position to the left of that shown in Fig. 4

as is usualin such apparatus.

As a tray moves across the cross conveyer 25, there is a possibility that it will not maintain proper alignment transversely of the conveyer. and, accordingly, each. of the blocking plates 59 is equipped with a'pair of spaced switch actuatin levers I5 and 16. These switch actuating levers are loosely mounted on the blocking plate 59 by means. of machine screws II, which are threaded into the blocking plates 59 and enter into loose fitting apertures I8 in the levers I5 and 16 so that the levers may be. rocked clockwise, as shown in Fig. 5, upon being engaged by a. tray [6 moving along the conveyer. The levers l5 and .16 are urged to the. position shown in. Fig. 5 by leat springs I9 fixed to the blocking plates 59 so th t the levers I5 and I6 are normally held in the position shown in Fig. 5, but may be rocked from that position to move their longest portions into a substantially vertical position. The lower ends of the levers I5 and 16 are bent over to form a camming portion 80, which, when its associated lever is rocked clockwise by a tray, will actuate a plunger 8| of a switch associated therewith. There is a blocking plate 59 associated with each pair of ovens I1 and 2|, I8 and 22 and I9 and 23 and associated with the pair of ovens 20 and 24, there are two switch actuating plungers 82 and 83 extending into the cross conveyer 25 and adapted to be engaged directly by a tray I6 which travels to the end pair of ovens. This construction is provided since the pair of ovens 20 and 24 are located at the end of the cross conveyer 25 and there is no necessity fOr moving the switch actuating mechanism out of the path of a tray since any tray which reaches the end of the conveyer will be fed to either the oven 20 or the oven 24. The construction of the blocking plate 59 at each of the pairs of ovens is identical, and, accordingly, only the switches actuated'by the trays at the ovens are shown in the circuit schematic. By reference to Figs. 7 and 8, it will be seen that the plungers 8| adjacent each pair 01 ovens control switches 86 to 93, the switches be ing located-in pairs adjacent the pair of ovens.

As illustrated somewhat diagrammatically-in Fig. 3, the oven II has rollers 94 positionecfi in 11 onto which a. tray I6 may be pushed and one 01 the rollers 94 is. positioned for movement'b a tray I6 to actuate a switch operating plunger-95 When a tray enters the oven IT, in addition t( the switch operatin plunger 95, each of the oven: is provided with a rear door switch, the oven t. having the rear door switch 96 associated with it This switch will be closed when the oven door r closed and the oven is prepared to receive a tray The switch actuating plunger 95 is duplicated it each of the ovens and the plunger 95 in the over I! controls a normally closed switch 91, which i: opened to prevent an operator from calling for a tray when there is already a tray in his oven The switch 96 serves the pu pose of preventinl the operation of the motor 50 (Fig. 7) when th oven door is open, and this switch is a normall: open switch closed by the oven door. There is switch similar to the switch 96 associated 'witl each oven and these switches are indicated 11 Figs. '7 and 8 with the reference numerals 98', 99 I00, I02, I03 and I04 associated with the ovens 2| I8, 22, I9, 23, 20 and 24, respectively. Similarly there is an oven roller actuated switch similar '0 the switch 91 associated with each of the oven I8 to 24 and these switches are designated in Fig: 7 and 8 with the reference numerals I05, I0'6, I01 I08, I09, H0 and II I, respectively. Power for driving the motor 35 at the mar conveyer and the motors 50, 5| 52 and 53 is sup plied from a 440 volt A. C. source I20, the. meta 35 always being driven in one direction as th power line from source I20 is connected to 1 through the make contacts of a relay 2| where as the motors .50, 5|, 52 and 53, ar reversibl motors and have the power supply from th source -"|20 connected to. them to drive them i opposite directions by the closure of contacts 2 relays I22, I23; I24, I25, I26, I21, I28 and. [Z The motor 50. has the relays I 22 and I23 ass: ciated with it and will be driven in one directio when relay I22 is energized and in the opposii direction when relay I23 is energized, The relay I24 and I25, I26 and I21 and I28 and I29 control the motors 52 and 53, respectively, in a similar manner. When the motors 50, 5| and 52'or 53 operate under control of one of the reversing relays I22 to I29 associated with them, they will drive their associated drive chains 56, I30; I3I and I32 in a direction depending upon the associated reversing relay that has been energized to feed parts 011 the cross conveyer 25 into the ovens I1 to 24.

In addition to the switches controlled by the oven doors and the switchescontrolled by the rollers in the ovens, each of the ovens I1 to 24, inclusive, has associated with them call buttons I31 to I44, respectively. These call buttons are operable to connectground through their associated switches 91, I05, I06, I01, I08, I09, H0.

and III, respectively-and through the normally closed contacts of relays I41, I48, I49, I50, I5I, I52, I53 and I54, respectively, to the windings of electromagnets I51, I58, I59, I60, I6I,-' "52,163 and I64, respectively. The electromagnets I 51 to I64 form a part of a co-ordinate switching mechanism, as illustrated .in Fig. 9, wherein pairs of electromagnets control the positioning of interposer members I61. There'are'ten interposer members I61 mounted upon each of a series of shafts I68, I69, I10 and HI and the shafts I68, I69, I 10 and HI are attached to armatures I12, I13,-I14 and I15. The'armature I12 is positioned for actuation by either the electromagnet I51 or ISL-the armature I13 is positioned for actuation by'either the electroma'gnet158 or electromagnet I62,'the armature I14 -is positioned for actuation by either the electromagnet I59 or the electromagnet I63 and the armature I15 is positioned for actuation by either the electromagnet I or the electromagnet I64. The armatures I12 to I15, inclusive, are each of the same construction and each carries on its shaft, as pointed out hereinbefore; ten of the interposer members I61, which are in the form of light springs that will be moved with the armature when it is attracted by either one of its associated electromagnets to rock the shafts and the interposer members I61 either clockwise or counter-clockwise, depending upon which of the electromagnets associated therewith is operated. The interposer members I61 are made in the form of springs so that after one of the electromagnets I 51. to I64 has been energized for controlling the position of its associated interposer members across the horizontal of the co-ordinate system shown in Fig. 9 and one of ten electromagnets I16 to I85, inclusive, associated with the vertical operating portions of the co-ordinate switching system has been energized, the interposer member I61 will be held in the position to which it was moved by its associatedelectromagnet after that one of 'the electromagnets I51 to I64, which originall moved the interposer member to its operated position, has been released. Each of the electromagnets I16 to I85, inc1usive,-has assigned to it a separate vertical portion of the co-ordinate system and in each ofthese portions there are provided three common contacting bars into engagement --with which contacts at each horizontal level may be moved .by an interposer member I61 which has been displaced from normal position, as shown in Fig; 9, to one of its operated positions when larly adaptableto effect the co-ordinate system of switching covered by the present invention. However, any suitable switching mechanism which will accomplish the desired results may be used so long as it is capable of operating in the manner just described. The patent to J. M'. Reynolds, No. 1,139,722, issued May 18, 1915, illustrates an early form of such a switching mechanism and .Patent No. 2,021,329, also to Reynolds, shows a later form of this type of switching mechanism which may be used in the apparatus embodying the present invention. The mode of operation 'of this apparatus will become more apparent as the description progressea particularly the description of the operation of the entire system in directing trays I6 to the proper location along the cross conveyer '25. It should be noted at this time that .the electromagnets I16 to I are, in the present embodiment "of the invention, operated in a definite sequence under control of the switching mechanisms shown in Fig. 10 and when so operated, the apparatus will cause trays I6 to be delivered tothe proper ovens, in-accordance with the order in iwhichthe call buttons I31 to I44 areoperated.

The switching mechanisms'as shown in Fig; 10 comprise stepper switches 200 and 2M each having two banks of contacts. The switch 200 and the switch 20I'are of the 'same'construction and only-the details ofthe switch 200 will be described completely. Inthis switch; there are provided two banks of contacts 202:"and 203, each having ten contacts therein'..which may be selectively interconnected with bars 204.and 205 by brushes 206 and '201, respectively. The brushes 206 and 201aremounte'd upons-a lever 208 normally urged to :rock about a pivot pin 209 in a clockwise directionby a coil spring 2I0. Attached-to the lever 208 is a-i'atchet' "2II', which has a pairof-pawls 2I2 and-2I3 associated with it. The'paw1' 2I2-is "adapted'to be actuated by an electromagnet 2I4, to-the r armature "2I5 of which the pawl 2I2 is attached, whereas the pawl 2I3 serves as a locking pawl to hold the ratchet in any of its operatedpositions where the brushes 206 and 201 will interconnect the contacts on the banks 202 and 203 with their associated bars204 and 205. Both ofthe pawls 2I2 and 2I3 are adapted to be released from engagement with the ratchet 2I I by an electromagnet 2I6. The structural features of the switch- 20I- are exactly the same as the switch 200 and the operation of these switches to'efiect'theoperation of release relays 220, 22I, 222, 223, 224, 225, 226,- 221, 228 and 229 and the electromagnets I16-to I 85 will become apparent as the description of the operation of the circuit progresses.-

In the bank of contacts 202, there are ten activ contacts 230, 23I,-232, 233,234,235, 236, 231, 238 and 239-having leads extending therefrom to one side of the windings of-the 'electro'rn'agnets I16 to I85, respectively, for normally connecting ground at 240 successively to the windings of the various vertical controlling'electromagnets I16 to I85 through the break contact of a normally deenergized relay 24I. The switch 20I is provided withapair of brushes 245 and 246, which serve to interconnect contact strips 241 and 248 with a contact-249 and oneof a series of contacts 250 to 259, respectively. The contact 249 of switch 20I; and thesingle active contact in the bank 203 of switch 200, serve asga restoringlcontact for restoring the respective switches to normal position byenergizing their release electr'omagnets 2I6 and the contacts 250-to 259of the switch 20l are connected individually to one side of the-windings at the releaserelays- 220 to 229, the other side of the windings of these relays being connected to grounded battery at 260.

' In: the foregoing description of theapparatus provided in the present embodimentof this invention, substantially all ofv the-mechanisms provided have been described and those which have not been described hereinbefore .lend themselves. better to description'indescribing the: mode of operation of. th apparatus which follows.

hr the: operation ofthe apparatus, an operator at any one. of the ovens IT to 24,'inclusive; may order a tray delivered: to him and. the first operator ordering atray will:have his order delivered to him first. For example, if the operators at ovens I9, I1-', 22. and.I8 desiretrays I6 delivered to them and the operators operate their call buttons I39, I 31;.142 and I38 in succession, the trays willi be delivered tothe-ovens .inthe same: order that the call buttons are operated- When: the operator at the oven I9 operates call button I39 ground: will be connected through the closed roller operated switch I06; which is closed when there is no tray in the oven, through the call button i39;normally closedcontact of relay I49, to energize eiectromagnet I59, the other side at which; is connected to-grounded battery at 26I'. When-.electromagnet we is energized, its associated' armature I14 will: be rocked counter-clockwise toposition theten inter-poser members: I61 mounted on'the shaft I10 in a position such that the energization of any ottheielectrom'agnets 116 to (85, inclusivewm cause the three contacts in thefourth Ievelfronrthebottom (Fig- 9) that are vertically aligned with the energized electromagnets' I16 til-I65, to be closed and-held. closed after the circuit to'the electromagnet. I59-is released. With the .circuit in the condition illustrated in Figs. 7 to 10,. electromagnet I16= will: be the first electromagnetcontrolling the verticals of the coordinate switching system to be energized. As the electromagnet I59 is energized, its annature I'14'will serve as'a contact to complete connection between grounded battery262 (Fig. 10), the winding of electromagnet 2, through armature I14 audits associated. contactto ground at 240, relay 2 being at this timerde-energized. As soon as electromagnet M4 is energized, it will attract its armature 2I5, thereby to cause the brushes 206 and 201 tomove into engagement with the first contacts in the banks of contacts associated with them. Thus, a. circuit will be closed from ground at 246 through bar 204',- brush 206,. contact 236, winding electromagnet 116, break contact of relay 220 to grounded battery'at: 260. Thus; the el ectromagnet I16 will be energized and will lock through: its lcfthand lockingcontact, which-is grounded,.'aud the electromagnet- I16 will remainzlocked' energized until release relay 220 is energized later in the cycle-of the operation of theapparatus- I If it be assumed thatthelour call buttons- I39; I31, Hi2 and I3: are in that order and in rapid succession so that there will be an insunicient interval' betweeii the operation of the various cell buttons to permita-tray to hedelivered to an oven i'n'that interval, the contacts assom'tated with the-electromagnet- I16 and'the interposer member I61 shitted counter-clockwise by electromagnet I58 will remain locked up, as described indetail 'heminatter.- However, the time required for the-operation of the relays I51 to I will be of sumcient duration topermit the vertical conhrolllng'electromagnets m to I65 to lock up the contacts in alignment therewithbefo're the electromagnet I59 is released.

The operation of call button I31 will complete a; circuit from ground through the closed contact 61, call button contacts, normally closed contact of relay I41 to energize electromagnet I51, which will again close the circuit to operate the stepper switch zilllandmove the brushes 206and 201 into engagement with. their second contacts. Brush 206 will, at this time, complete a circuit: from ground at 240 through contact 23I, winding of electromagnet I11, normally closed contact of relay 22I to grounded'battery 260, thus locking. up the contacts associated with' the. electromagnet I11 in thefirst horizontallevel from the topof the co-ordinate system shown in Fig. 9;

In a similar manner, the operationof call button I42 will: causethe energization of electro magnet I62 and electromagnet 'I 18 and thus effect th closure and lockingiup ofthe three contacts in vertical alignment with the electromagnet I18 and at the fourth horizontal level from the top of: the co-ordin'ate switching system shown in Fig. 9. It should be noted that at the time of the locln'ng up of the third level iron: the top in the fourth vertical group from the left, the third level from the top is still locked up in the third vertical group from the left since the interposer members I61 will be held by the electromagnet associated with their-particular vertical groupin spite of the fact thattheir'associated.electromag netswhich move them: to position have been. released. Also,. the operational call button I38 will cause the three contacts at the third level from the top' and? in the fourth vertical group in alignment with electromagnet I19 to beclosed.

The operation controlled. by the. groups of contacts which are selected for operation by the electromagnets I51 .to I64 and are subsequently actuatedby the electromagnets I16 to I85 consist of'indicating to the operator that-his'request for a tray has been registered or stored and, thereafter, controlling'the blocking mean and motors adjacent the various ovens to complete the delivery of trays to the operators that have requested them in the order in which the requests were made. In each case-the corresponding contacts in avertical area and horizontal area of the co-ordinate system perform the same functions and it is believed necessary to describe in detail the operation of only one of these sets of contacts. As soon as the first group of contacts is closed, that is, the contacts under control of el'ectromagnet I16 and electromagnet I59,

three circuits will be prepared, contact 263 will be engaged with a common contacting bar' 264. contact 265- will be engaged with a contacting bar 266 and; contact 261 will be engaged: with a. contacting: bar 268. Common. contacting bar 264 is'connected'toground at 269 through a break contact of electromagnet I (Fig. 9) and when the-bar 264- is engaged by the contact 263, a ciredit from: ground: will be supplied to one side of the winding of a relay 210 (Fig. 8), the other sideof the winding of which is connected to grounded battery 21I. This will cause relay 210 to been'erglzed and connect one side of a volt current source 212 through rear door switch IIJI, if the rear door of the oven is closed, to the winding of relay I26 which controls the current pply from the 440 volt source I26 to the motor 52 and which, when operated. will cause the motor to run in a direction such that a tray IE will be fed to the oven I9. Relay I26 will not be immediately energized, but will be held in condition to be energized when a tray 16 engages plungers 8| and efiects the closure of switches 98 and 91. Immediatelyupon energizationzof relay 218, a circuit will be completed from one side of the line running to the 110 volt source 212, through the winding of solenoid 53 to the other side of the 110 volt line. The solenoid 63 thus supplied with current is one of three similar solenoids positioned adjacent each pair of ovens.

It should be noted at this time that the'energization of the electromagnet 116 broke the circuit from ground at its contacts to the common bar 264 in the second vertical groupfrom' the left and, therefore, although contacts are locked up in the second vertical group by energization of the electromagnet 111 associated therewith, these circuits will be ineffective until electromagnet 116 is released. 'When the solenoid 63 adjacent the oven 19 is energized, it will pull its associated blocking plate 59 up in the path of a tray, which will be fed down the cross conveyer 25 and as soon as the tray engages both of the plungers 81, contact will be made through the contacts 98 and 91 in series from one side of the line from the 110. volt source 212, through relay 126 to the other side to current source 212, thereby to energize the relay 126 and cause the motor 52 to drive the tray into the oven '19. When contact 265 in the fifth level and first vertical group is closed, it will connect ground at 215 (Fig. 9) through the winding of relay 149 (Fig. 8') the other side of the winding of which I is connected to grounded battery at 216, thereby to energize the relay 149 and break the circuit to electromagnet 1 59. In this manner, as soon as the electromagnet 159 has caused one of the electromagnets in the group of electromagnets 116 to 185 to be energized and thereby to lock up a contact in one of the vertical groups, the electromagnet 159 will be released and'the operation ofthe armature 114 will be effected by the electromagnet 1.63. 7

When the contact 261 engages the common bar 268, a circuit will be completed from battery 211 (Fig. 8) through bar 268 (Fig. 9), contact 261 to a lamp 219, the other side of which is connected to the battery 211, thus indicating by a visual signal that'the operator's order has been registered and that a tray will be delivered to him.

When the electroma gnet 116 is energized, ground will be supplied through one of its make contact over a lead 288 (Fig. 9), through the winding of a relay 281, the other'side of the winding of which is connected to grounded battery at 282. The relay 281 controls the relay 121 and if there is a tray 16 in the position shown in dot and dash'lines (Fig. 7), a plunger 283 will have closed its associated switch 284 and the energ'ization of relay 281 will connect one side ofthe line from 110 volt current source 212, through the winding of relay 121, through contacts 285 normally in the position shwn, through closed switch 284, to the other side of the 110 volt line at source 212. The switch 285 has a movable contact 286, which may be locked in either open or closed position by a spring 281 and the movable contact 286 may be moved to the position shown in Fig. 7 by energization of a solenoid 288, the plunger 289 of which is fixed tp'the movable contact 286. The movable contact 286 may be moved from the position shown Fig. 7 by a tray 16 engaging a cam member 298, as the tray is pushed oil the conveyer onto the cross conveyer 25,'the cam 298 being inter gaged the plunger 283 and initially completed the circuit for supplying current to the relay 121, the

control of the current supply to the motor will be shifted to normally open switch 41, which is held open by t e feed dog 45 and which will be closed as soon as the dog 45 moves out of engagement with the switch.

From the foregoing, 'it is believed to be apparent that each time the motor 35 is energized to feed a tray 16 (iii the-main conveyer 15 and onto the cross conveyer 25,'the motor 35 will drive its chain 42 through a complete cycle, the circuit to the motor being initially'completed by the plunger 283 if a tray has been ordered by an operator and the circuit being maintained through normally open switch 41 until the dog 45 or 45 returns to open switch 41. The circuit to switch 284 will be held open by switch 285 until solenoid 288 is operated. The solenoid 288 will be energized to restore the switch 285 to the condition shown through a series of normally closed switches 295,

296, 291 and 298 associated with the drivechains.

56, 138, 131 and 132. These drive chains 56, I311, 131 and 132,- when in normal position, will carry theirswitch actuating dogs in position to hold the switches 295 (a 'part of the switch 41), 296, 291

and298 closed to connect one side of the volt source 212 through the switches to hold a slowto-operate relay 318 energized. Relay 318 is provided with a break contact which, when relay 318 is (re-energized, will connect one side of the 110 volt source 212 through the switches 298, 291, 296 and 295 to one side of the winding of a relay 299, the other side or; the of which is connected to the opposite side of 110 volt source 212. The break contact of relay'3l8 is also connected to the winding of solenoid 288. Thus, when one of the switches 295, 296, 291 or 298, which had been opened by the" operation of its associated chain dog, returns to normal, the switch 295, 296, 291 or the switch 298 will complete a circuit momentarily to relay 299 and solenoid 288. The circuit to the break contact of relay 318 will be maintained only for the slow to operate period of relay 318 and as soon as relay 318 breaks its contacts, the circuit to relay 299 and solenoid 288 will not be made again until one-of the switches 295, 296, 291 or 298 opens and closes. Uponenergization of relay 299, it will connect ground at 388 through electromagnet 214 of switch 281 to grounded battery at 381 to step the switch 21 to its first position, where brush 246 will complete a circuit from ground at 3112 to contact 258 to energize release relay 228.

From the foregoing, it is believed to be apparent that relay 116 will 'not be restored to inoperative position until after a tray has been'delivered to the oven 19, the first oven, the operator of which ordered a tray in the sequence chosen for illustration, since the relay 116 locked up initially because of the operation of the call button 139 and, upon being energized, the relay 116 prevented the operation of the motor controlling relays associated with the other ovens due to the fact that it broke the ground connection to the common bar 264 at the second vertical group in the coordinate switching system shown in Fig. 9.

The circuit connections completed by the selection of groups of three contacts in the co-ordinate system under control of the electromagnets I51 to I64 will thus beopened in sequence and the switches, 200 and -2 Bl will he stepped to their various positions until they reach their tenth position. As soon as the switch 200 reaches its tenth position, the "crush will become effective to connect ground at the'common bar 205 through the tenth contact inthebank 203 and relay v21H will operate to break the ground connection from ground at240 to the bar 204 .andto. energize restoring electrom'agnet 2L6, thus permitting the lever 208 to drop back to its normal position, as shown. The relay 24f ismade slow-to-operate so that thetenth contact 239 at the. bank 202 willperform itsfunction before ground at 240 .is supplied :to the restoring electroma net 216,. Similarly, the switch 201 will be restored to its normal position, as shown after the tenth contact 259 associated with brush 24.6 has energized the release relay 229. If, for any reason, it is desired to reset the switches 20.0 or .20! .to normal position after one ormore of the call .buttonshave beenoperated and .the switches 200 or .20! have stepped their brushes into engagement with any one of the first l-nine contacts in the associated banks, restoring switch .320 .or 32! may be operated manually to connect ground to the slow-torelease restoring relays 2. If, asstated in the selected example. only four call buttons are operated, thebrushes of switches zillland 21H will be stepped only'four places, and regardless of the interval elapsing before the. next call button .is operated, the switches 20.0 and 20! .will rem in i position to connect barlllll with contact 203 and bar 248 with contact 253unless switch s 320 and 3 l ar operat d. Thus, the fiftheall button to be operated will. throu h. Switches 2.00 and 21H. control the fifth. vertical group of contacts in .the co-ordinate system. Similarly, theel ven h all button operated will control thenr t vertical group unless switches 3.20 and 32], are ope at at some time between the operation of .thefir t and eleventh call buttons in sequence.

Although a specific embodiment ,of theinvention has been described hereinbefore, it will be understoodthat additional stations might be serviced by the crossconveyer by adding mechanism similar .to those described hereinbefore as necessary and that regardless of the number of stations along the cross conveyor 25 these stations may have parts delivered to them in the order in which their operators closetheir respective call buttons.

What is claimed is:

l. A conveyer system comprising a main conveyerand a cross conveyer, a sereis of processing stations positioned in pairs on opposite sides of said cross conveyer, means for feeding articles from the main conveyer to the cross conveyer,

means adjacent each pair of processing stations for blocking movement of articles-beyond said processing stations, means operable in either of 'two directions. for feeding articles off the cross conveyer to the processing stations on opposite sides of the cross conveyer, a plurality of call buttons, one adjacent each processing station, an electrical switching mechanism operable under control of said call buttons to register the sequence of operation of the call buttons, and means controlled by said switching mechanism for controlling the feeding of articles from the main conveyer to the cross conveyer and for controlling the direction of operation of the means for feeding the articles off the cross conveyer to the processing stations.

2. The combination with a plurality of processing machines of a conveyer apparatus for selectively feeding articles to said processing machines comprising means adjacent each processing machine for feeding parts into the processing machine for feeding parts into the processing ma.

chine, means for stopping articles adjacent the processing machines, signalling mechanism .adjacent each processing machine and operable :in any desired sequence, means controlled by said signalling means for controlling the stopping means and the means .for feeding articles to :the processing machines in the same sequence that the signalling means are operated, and means on said stopping means for preventing operation of the means for feedin articles to .the processing machines until the articles are in .proper registry for said feeding.

4. The combination with a plurality of processing machines of a conveyer apparatus for selec tively feeding articles to said processingmachines comprising means adiacentzeach processing .ma-

chine for feeding parts into the processing ma-- chine, means for stopping articles adjacent the processing machines, signalling mechanism .adjacent each processing machine and operable in any desired sequence, means controlled by said signalling means for controlling the stopping means and the means for feeding articles to the processing machines in the same sequence that the signalling means are operated, and means operable by an article on the main conveyer reaching a predetermined position for initiating the operation of feeding an article from a main conveyer to thecross conveyer.

5. The combination with a plurality of processing machines of a conveyer apparatus for selectively feeding articles to said processing machines comprising means adjacent each processing machine for feeding parts into the processing machine, means for stopping articles adjacent the processing machines, signalling mechanism :ad-. jacent each processing machine and manually operable in any desired sequence, means controlled by said signalling means for controlling the stopping means and the means for feeding articles to the processing machines in the same sequence that the signalling means are operated, and means controlled by an article entering the com veyer for preventing the feeding of another article thereto until the first fed article is fed into the processing machine.

6. A conveyer controlling circuit including a plurality of contacting mechanisms arranged in vertical groups and horizontal rows, manually operable-means associated with said rows, one of said manually operable means being individual to one of said rows, andmeans operable in a pre determined cyclic order forassociating all of the manually controlled means with each vertical group of contacting mechanisms for registering the order in which the manually operable means areoperated.

7. A conveyer controlling circuit including a plurality of contacting mechanisms arranged in vertical groups and horizontal rows, manually operable means associated with said rows, one of said manually operable means being individual to one of said rows, means operable in a predetermined cyclic order for associating all of the manually controlled means with each vertical group of contacting mechanisms for registering the order in which the manually operable means are operated, and means controlled by the contacting mechanisms for selectively operating a conveyer.

8. A conveyer controlling circuit including a plurality of contacting mechanisms arranged in vertical groups and horizontal rows, manually operable means associated with said rows, one of said manually operable means being individual to one of said rows, means operable in a predetermined cyclic order for associating all of the manually controlled means with each vertical group of contacting mechanisms for registering the order in which the manually operable means are operated; and means controlled by the contacting mechanisms for blocking movement of articles along the conveyer.

9. A conveyer for carrying trays of articles to a plurality of processing machines comprising. a. main feed conveyer, a cross conveyer extending between two rows of processing machines positioned in pairs on opposite sides of the cross conveyer, means for feeding a tray from the main conveyer to the cross conveyer, a blocking means on the cross conveyer adjacent each pair of procesing machines, means for moving the blocking means into the path of trays moving on the cross conveyer, reversible mechanism adjacent each pair of processing machines for selectively driving trays to either one of the adjacent processing machines, a coordinate switching system for controlling the operation of the means for moving the blocking means and the reversible mechanisms, and manually operable means adjacent the processing machines for controlling the sequence of operation of the co-ordinate switching mechanism.

10. In a conveyer for feeding trays to processing machines, a cross conveyer for feeding trays to position between pairs of processing machines reversible mechanisms, one for each pair of machines, for moving trays off the cross conveyer into a selected machine, a plurality of contacting mechanisms arranged in vertical groups and horizontal rows, manually operable means associated with each machine and with said rows, one of said manually operable means being individual to one of said rows, means operable in a predetermined "cyclic order for associating all of the manually controlled means with each vertical group of con tacting mechanisms for registering the order in which-the manually operable means are operated, and means interconnecting the reversible mechanisms with the contacting mechanisms for operating the reversible mechanisms in accordance with the sequence of operation of the manually operable means.

11. In a conveyer for feeding trays to processing machines positioned at opposite sides of the conveyer, selectively operable blocking means positioned between pairs of machines on opposite sides of the conveyer, means for controlling the operation of said blocking means including a plurality of contacting mechanisms arranged in vertical groups and horizontal rows, manually operable means associated with each machine and into a selected with said rows, one of said manually operable means being individual to one of said rows, and means operable in a predetermined cyclic order for associating all of the manually controlled means with each vertical group of contacting mechanisms for registering the order in which the manually operable means are operated.

12. In a conveyer for feeding trays to processing machines, a cross conveyer for feeding trays to position between pairs of processing machines, reversible mechanisms, one for each pair of machines, for moving trays off the cross. conveyer machine, a plurality of contacting mechanisms arranged in vertical groups and horizontal rows, manually operable means associated with each machine and with said rows, one of said manually operable means being individual to one of said rows, means operable in a predetermined cyclic order for associating all of the manually controlled means with each vertical group of contacting mechanisms for registering the order in which the manually operable means are operated, means interconnecting the reversible mechanisms with the contacting mechanisms for operating the reversible mechanisms in accordance with the sequence of operation of the manually operable means, and means operable by a tray for initiating operation of the reversible mechanisms.

13. In a conveyer for feeding trays to processing machines, a cross conveyer forfeeding trays to position between pairs of processing machines, reversible mechanisms, one for each pair of machines, for moving trays off the cross conveyer into a selected machine, a plurality of contacting mechanisms arranged in vertical groups and horizontal rows, manually operable means associated with each machine and with said rows, one of said manually operable means being individual to one of said rows, means operable in a predetermined cyclic order for associating all of the manually controlled means with each vertical group of contacting mechanisms for registering the order in which the manually operable means are operated, means interconnecting the reversible mechanisms with the contacting mechanisms for operating the reversible mechanisms in accordance with the sequence of operation of the manually operable means, and a pair of contact switches operable by a tray for initiating operation of each reversible mechanism.

14. In a conveyer for feeding trays to processing machines, a cross conveyer for feeding tray: to position between pairs of processing machines reversible mechanisms, one for each pair of machines, for moving trays off the cross conveyer into a selected machine, a plurality of contacting mechanisms arranged in vertical groups and hori' zontal rows, manually operable means associate( with each machine and with said rows, one of Sail manually operable means being individual to on of said rows, means operable in a predeterminel cyclic order for associating all of themanualli controlled means with each vertical group of con tacting mechanisms for registering the order i which the manually operable means are operate! means interconnecting the reversible mechanisn: with the contacting mechanisms for operating th reversible mechanisms in accordance with tr sequence of operation of the manually operabi means, and a pair of switches closed by a tray 0 the conveyer in proper position to be fed to machine for completing an operating circuit to reversible mechanism.

. PAUL S. MCCANN.

ALEXANDER N, TODOROFF. 

